Council rejects request for more gritting on Catterick Garrison roads

Hipswell and Colburn councillor Kevin Foster said he was disappointed that the authority had declined to change the priority status of Gough Road and part of Plumer Road.

Senior councillors have agreed with highways officers that the roads should remain at their existing priority two status.

Cllr Foster highlighted Gough Road’s importance as an access route to several large retail outlets and the local leisure centre.

He also raised concerns about the incline close to its junction with the A6136, which he said becomes hazardous during icy weather.

The councillor pointed out that Gough Road and Plumer Road were used by service buses operating every 30 minutes in each direction during working hours.

He argued it was therefore important for the roads to be kept safe during cold weather.

But highways officers recommended against upgrading the route, saying its existing treatment was in line with council policy and consistent with arrangements elsewhere in North Yorkshire.

Reacting to the decision, Cllr Foster said: “I’m very disappointed in this decision.

“This is another issue when councillors are asking for improvements and it’s been decided by officers without debate.

“I made the request as it’s a major bus route going past Tesco, which is an important place for people to get to in bad weather.”

The recommendation was among a series of decisions on changes requested to the council’s winter gritting network ahead of the 2026/27 season.

All the recommendations put forward by officers were agreed.

Only one of the requests considered resulted in an upgrade.

North Cowton Parish Council successfully asked for the route into the village from the B1263 to receive more regular treatment.

Officers agreed that the road and the route around the village green should be upgraded from Priority 3 to Priority 2 because of the size of the village and frequency of buses, including school services. The change will add about one kilometre to an existing gritting route.

Elsewhere in the Richmondshire area, a resident’s request to upgrade the road through Whitaside, near Low Row, was rejected despite concerns about black ice, compacted snow and difficulties getting children to their school bus.

The council said priority three remained appropriate, although it will check the provision and spacing of grit heaps and bins on routes considered in the review before winter.

The authority has an £8.59m winter service budget, with the North Cowton change expected to cost less than £5 for each gritting run.